New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-02
TIE OMAHA'S FATAL SHELLS.

CAPTAIN SELERIDGE y EXPLANATION OF THE DIS
AsrER OFF THE JAPANESE COAST
WAsHINGToN, May 1.-THE TRIBUNE has already print
ed Captain Thomas o. selfrdges explanation made to
reporter Of The San francisco Chronicle of the target
practice Of the Omaha in japanese waters and the killing
and woundlng Of japanese citizens which ensued The
following letter addressed Governor Hubbard United
Minister TO Japan. gives detailed account
Of the disaster and the action which preceded it:
L. $ S. oHAH4 J., At Ts SEA
The Hon r b Hubbard. I. S. Minister PenpOentarV &C.,
Ny 6siR do2EGxoR. Permit to draw upon your time
firing by the omaha March whose sequel ended the
woandns OF seven Quarterly practice with great guns at
target required OF every cruising ship and place left
l. voyage Kobe Nasasak determined that
sced az the most cOpyenlsnt was IN The open between
say twelve miles from the latter place Il was pleasant
morning and the sea in direction covered with fish
south side was Safsn and and o%Sd the
English ln sa chart 5 feet @ The thought a. onss s Sr
me- II anchored the target R front Of t6s en- The latter
safe No shots fired at the Island 1t was my intention
elm but the water was deep that no bottom was found with
hs oo ana ReTs iUo s small pc
canvas on 1oat was placed Ny sole motive IN selecting
ported by every line officer OF the Omaha lis customary
other boat abreast the to note explosion
Of the shell steamed 70 within 900 yards Of the scanned
haoitaton cultivated field IN sight The target anchored
from and abreast OF the target the Omaha steamed out TO
position about 100 yards distant from and her starboard
ship dd during the firing Tho first OBJ
taned firing three shots from the Hotchkss
chine gun, when found, careful deliberate nre
fired the ship had dr toward the target so as TO reduce
the distance 20 900 ards then ceased firing steamed out
but 200 yards distant Tho engines were stopped
and the firing resumed Forytwo shells were nred IN all AS
would rebound aud strike the cliG none higher than
half way up) and would bring down quantity
Of rock aud dirt that making cloud d. Of dass
The position OF each shot as 1t struck the target
greater than fifty wards from it. Having expended the regu
ation quantity picked up the target and steamed away for
had exploded During tho firing my glasses constantly
on the Island saw every shot strike except half dozen
human being. habltation cultivated field in sight
The following day March received word from the Coy
ans the Island had to the spot dug out six uner
plodod SHE'LL and carried them 10 their village At this time
In tho afternoon the deputy pece inspector Of the district
the chief OF the village 10 take charge OF them After he had
tho Japanese do DOT say how but as some OF the other
probably while It being tampered with 6Oponnd per-
cusson shell BURST aud killed four OF the bystanders ana
done the island It's Inhabitants aud no impartial person
cond hold responsible for what occurred afterward
since this deporabie accident transpred that in
1881 Japanese issued circular decree prohibiting target
firing torpedo practice within three NILES OF their coast
Through the negligence Of tho United states or that Of some
in The SQUADRON had heard OF It's
existence at time ask careful and patient read
facts and shall DO myself the honor OF calling upon you
he earliest possible after arriving at Yokohama IL
4 the Japancsc Cabinet to whose cogniancs matter
would DO referred and deep regret for the acc
lent Very respectfully Your oGediens servant Stnno,
Captain. United States Navy.